Coupling means for tubular casing



Feb. 2, 1954 F. F. STADELHOFER COUPLING MEANS FOR TUBULAR CASING FiledFeb. 10, 1951 INVENTOR. Aw I imam/aw? ATTORNEY! Patented Feb. 2, 1954COUPLING MEANS FOR TUBULAR CASING Fred F. Stadelhofer, Berkeley, Calif.,assignor to Berkeley Pump Company, Berkeley, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Application February 10, 1951, Serial No. 210,331

1 Claim. i

This invention relates to a coupling means for coupling the adjacentends of relatively large tubing having a relatively thin wall such asspirally welded casing for use in casing water wells.

It is the principal object of my present invention to provide animproved coupling means for coupling together the adjacent ends of lighttubular casing in a fluid-tight manner, which coupling means is simpleand inexpensive to produce and can be easily and quickly applied to thetubing ends to effect an efiicient coupling thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a coupling means ofthe character referred to which will effect precise alignment of theends of the coupled tubing upon application of the coupling meansthereto,

It is a further object of my invention to provide a coupling means ofthe character referred to which may include a central journal member,and which will not only properly align the ends of the coupled tubingbut will rigidly support the journal member in a correct relativeposition axially of the tubing.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a view in elevation of the adjacent ends oftwo sections of spirally welded casing, showing such ends coupledtogether by my improved coupling means, with parts broken away and incentral vertical section to show certain details of construction,

' Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the adjacent ends of twosections of well casing coupled together by my improved coupling means,and illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention, in which thecoupling means is fitted with a central journal member for supporting apump drive shaft in a precise, proper aligned relationship with thecasing.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,showing the cricular distribution of the clips which are welded to thecasing and connected by means of bolts to effect the couple between theadjacent ends of the well casing.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I 0 and IIindicate the adjacent ends of two sections of tubular casing. This steelcasing is of the type of relatively large diameter with a relativelythin wall, such as spirally welded steel casing used in water wells.This tubular casing is used in the approximate range of six to teninches in diameter, and in some instances is made of twelve gauge sheetsteel.

It is highly desirable to effect a coupling between adjacent sections ofthe casing, particularly when it is used in water wells, which willplace the casing ends in exact alignment and so connected that therewill be no leakage at the junction between the adjacent ends of thetubing sections.

My improved coupling means includes a, circular aligning band l2 of anexternal diameter agreeing with the internal diameter of the casingsections [0 and H, so that the adjacent ends of the casing sections I!)and H may snugly telescope over the opposite ends of the aligning bandl2. At its opposite ends the peripheral surface of the aligning band I2is tapered radially inward as at M for the purpose of ease. in pressingthe ends of the casing sections over the external periphery of the band.

The aligning band is formed with a concentric annular sealing ring l5,which is of an external diameter not less than the external diameter ofthe casing and preferably slightly greater, as illustrated. The sealingring 15 has opposite sealing faces l8 which are transverse with respectto the axis of the aligning band I 2, which faces are spacedlongitudinally inward from opposite ends or side faces of the aligningband 2, as illustrated.

It is intended .that the adjacent ends of the casing sections l0 and Htelescope over opposite ends of the aligning band 12 and abut tightlyagainst the sealing faces l6 oi the annular sealing ring I5. I prefer,before using the coupling member to couple the ends of the casingsections l0 and H, to make the ends of the-casing sections Ill and Hperfectly transverse with respect to the axis of the casing, so thatthey will tightly abut throughout their entire circumference against thesealing faces 16 of the annular sealing ring l5. Obviously,-.when theadjacent ends of the casing sections [0 and H are telescoped over thealigning band l2, they will be 3 positioned a distance short of the endof the easing. The clips, as illustrated, are U-shaped sheet metal clipswith the legs [8 thereof directed toward the end of the casing sectionand with a fiat transverse section [9 projecting radially outward fromthe casing. These clips are inexpensive to manufacture and are welded inplace to the exterior ofthezcasing. The radial ,portions IQ of the clipsare drilled to receive connecting bolts 20 which may be of aninexpensive type such as machine bolts.

When the clips of the twosections .are .connected together by theconnecting bolts '28 and the same are tightened, the .ends :of.the'casing sections I B and M will be .dtrawn toward reach other andpressed in firm sealing contact with the faces [6 of the sealing .ring15. .The contact of the thin end wall of the casing sections is of suchsmall area that when a couplin iiorce Eis exerted by tightening theconnecting bolts at, a very eiiective .seal is .made between the casingends and .the sealing rring l5 and in this way makes .a .gasketlessjoint. .In .actual practice I have tested this joint to 400 poundsps.hand there was norsignoileakageat the joint.

I .prefer that the .aligning band .52 with .its integral sealing .ringL5 .be formed of bronze .or .somesimilarnon-ferrous metalso .that therewill be no effective rusting of the casing to thesealing ring, whichenables .the joint .to .he easily broken-if desired. In theeventthattheconnect- Ting .bolts T20 rust fast and .the ends thereof.can- .notbe released, it .is only necessary tosaw the "bolts 2.0 .inhalf and ithecasing section can be easily uncoupled.

.In Fig. Z'Ihave shown ,a modified form of my invention in which. thereis disposed .at the axial center of the aligningiband I'ZLajournalmember 2.1 for receivin a .rubberbearing 22 or the like in the eventthat the casing .is .tchouseapump shaft such as.23. The. journal member2i.,.-how- .ever, may be a pipe clamp for ,holdingpipe tubing when thedevice is used in conjunction with a turbine type .pump. The journalmember '2'! is connected by rcircumferentially spaced rigid spider armsil'to the aligning .band 112.

Obviously, ;the aligning band 1.2. and the ,jour na12'l being relatively.rigid and perfectly concentric, when the couplinghetwe'en the adjacentends '01 the sections f9 and H o'f'the casing is effected, not only willthe casing sections be posi -tioned in perfect alignment "but thejournal. sectionZ-I will likewise be in proper central posi- *tionwithrespect thereto. This, of course, is importantin water well casings whena-pump shaft isrequired'tobe journale'd-inthe casing at paced pointstherealong.

'l-also desire to-point'out here thatthe external diameter of "thecouplingmeans ismaintainecl at a minimum. "I'his-in some instances, isan im- *p'ortant'featurc.

In utilizing the coupling means "herein dis- =closed,I prefer that theends of the casing sec- *tions 10 and H be first placed-in a lathe orlike todl and the endsof thepipe cut off or turned "sothat the edgethereof around its complete circumference lies in the same plane and atperfect rightangles to the longitudinalaxisof the casing section.Thealigning band lZ'is then telescoped into the end of one-casingsection and the end *oifthe other casing section is 'then t'elescopedover the aligning .ban'dsso-that the ends -of"bo'th sections abut thesealing faces [6. Of course, there would have been previously applied tothe casing sections the radial lugs or clips H. The registering clips Hof the adjoining ends of the casing sections in and l l are thenconnected together by bolts 26 which are then tightened up to tightlycompress the ends of the casing sections it and H into firm sealingeontact with t'ne .faces it of the-sealing ring l5.

In the event that the sealing ring carries a journal member 21 such asshown in Fig. 2, this journalmember will be automatically secured andmaintaineddn a "proper relative position to the rinternalrdiametenof thecasing. Likewise when lthezends of ithe acasing sections H) and H aretelescopedzover :the aligning band 12, the ends thereof vwill he.brought into precise axial alignment.

Ltdesire to point out here that a coupling member such as I have hereindisclosed is very inexpensive .to manufacture .andprovidesarapid; and

inexpensive .medium of coupling casing sections of light materialtogether.

Further, I desire to point out that the ,joint effected by my couplingmeans will be watertight under relatively high pressures.

While .I have shown the preferred .iorm xof my invention, it is .to beunderstood .that various changesimay be made ingitsconstructionLbythoseskilled in the art Without departing -from the spirit of the inventionas defined .in 'the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claim and desire to.securejby Letters .Patent is:

A; coupling means for theadiacent :ends .of two sections of tubingcomprising a circular .relatively rigid aligning'bandofandntemaldiameter agreeing with the interior diameterpfithetuhing,

.a concentric annulansealingring formed on and projecting .from theouter ,periphery .of .the .band

and of an external diameter not less than .the

external diameter ofgthe tubing, .theringjnavmg sealing faces .on aplane transverse to the .axis of 'thetubing and substantially spacedfrom the transverse ends of thehand whereby the ends of the .tubing maytelescope .over .the external .periphery of thebandandabut againstsaidjfanes. radially projectinglugs welded .to the exteriornof .eachtubular section .in circ.ular fashion .and

spaced .circumferentially about said tubular .sectionat apointshorteofithe endthereof, Lthelugs of the adjacent ends -..o'f' thetubing section being in llongitudinalalignment, ,each.of-said".lugscomprising a thin sheet metalstripbentina ufshape andhaving itslegsextendedtowardjthe adjacent ends of the tubularsections, and connecting.holts connecting the lugs of the tubular sections together ,to .form .arigid connection .therehetween and to force .the .ends .(If the tubularsections into sealing contact with the sealing facesof thesealing, ring.

FRED F. STADELHOEER.

References Cited in .thefile of .this .patent UNITED 1ST ATES EATENTSNumber *Name Date 235,384 Russell eta-1 lDec. 1451 880 1,466,592 KingAug. 28, T923 15590g666 An'ge'll June 29, I926 139L424 Kirkpatrick"Deep-20, 1932 2,208,975 Halt July-2391940

